VOTE!!! - a photo on Flickriver

VOTE!!!

First things first. I need your VOTE for this shot in the Alaska Railroad's 2022 calendar contest that is ongoing now through January 20th. If you have a Facebook account please click here to vote for this shot:

woobox.com/7v3msa/gallery/RpQ3Y8tbcYw

But I figured I should put this image on Flickr to since this shot is unquestionably my favorite of all time. And with it in the contest I must of course share the story behind it.

As I shared in my earlier post here from 2011, the Hurricane Gulch Bridge was my personal "holy grail" of photography in Alaska. After finally finding the spot and carving a trail in, I continued to return over the intervening five years and really got all kinds of trains in different seasons. But, the problem with my secret spot is that it is only a morning shot because you are shooting due west toward the the bridge. Getting to one of the ridges west of the bridge was simply impossible. There was no trail and to bushwhack that far and find an open spot (that may not even exist) was something that I knew I could never accomplish.

But as the years passed technology developed and "drones" started to become more and more common among my fellow photographers and railfans. In the early summer of 2016 a generous spouse surprised we with a Phantom 4. I took the time to learn how to use and and grow more and more confident and by the end of the summer I finally had the courage to risk it and try for the "THE" shot.

On Monday the 19th of September the final Hurricane Turn of the season made it's trek north from Talkeetna to its namesake bridge to turn back for the last time until the following May. The fall colors were spectacular so I made the long trip from Anchorage, hiked in my secret trail a mile off the highway, and waited. The train was late this day and I had no cell service so couldn't call the chief dispatcher and radio chatter was light.

But just before packing up I heard them on the radio and got the drone ready. Taking off from my secret camp site on the ridge was a bit challenging given the small hole in the trees above, and the flight to the other side of the bridge was a rather long and nerve wracking 2/3 of a mile. But the flight was a success and this is just one of many of shots it yielded....but unquestionably my favorite.

I had been shooting trains in Alaska for nine years at this time, and this shot was truly a dream come true! It just all came together this day. I honestly only wanted a drone for this one shot.....and I pulled it off! So no matter what I post here in the future the king has been crowned and this image will reign at the top for all time.

A large shimmering metal print hangs proudly in my house. A reminder of a day for the ages!

Hurricane, Alaska
Monday September 19, 2016

Taken in: United States / Alaska / Chulitna (show map)

Taken on: September 19, 2016

Tags:

Hurricane Gulch

Railroad

Alaska

Alaska Railroad

Train

F40

GP40-2 « less

Sets appears in: • Alaska Railroad • Hurricane Gulch Bridge

Groups appears in: • Alaska Railroad • EMD more » • Your Best Railroad Shot • American Rails • Steel Rails Across North America. • North American Railroads • Fine Art Photography of Railroading • Railfan Atlas • The best photographs from around the world. • flickrailroad • Train World North America « less

Camera: DJI FC330, f/2.8, 1/400 sec, 3.6mm, ISO 200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	DJI FC330
Lens:	3.6 mm
Aperture:	f/2.8
Exposure Time:	0.003 sec (1/400)
Focal Length:	3.6mm
ISO:	200
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Thio 9.8 (Android)
Show full info

Stats: 3,629 views / 13 comments

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